sheerness

intransitive verb

Origin: var. of shear, prob. infl. by Du or LowG scheren, to cut, deviate, warp away

transitive verb

noun

1. a sudden change of course; abrupt turn; swerve
2. the oblique heading or position of a ship riding at a single bow anchor
3. the upward curve of a ship's deck toward the bow and stern, as seen from the side